Binturong
⚡ Key Facts & Quick Answers (AEO Summary)
- Taxonomic Class: Mammals
- Dietary Niche: Omnivore (Figs, fruits, small rodents, birds, fish)
- Max Speed: 15 km/h (9 mph)
- Adult Weight: 9 - 20 kg (20 - 44 lbs)
- Typical Lifespan: 15 - 20 years
- Primary Habitat: Tall primary rainforest canopy, dense jungle thickets
- Native Region: Southeast Asia (India, Indonesia, Philippines)
- IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
📊 Physical & Biological Metrics
🧬 Scientific Taxonomy & Biological Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Carnivora |
| Family | Viverridae |
| Genus | Arctictis |
| Species Binomial | Arctictis binturong |
📖 1. Species Overview
Often called the 'Bearcat', the Binturong is a heavy, tree-dwelling carnivoran native to Asian rainforests. It is one of the few Old World mammals with a fully prehensile tail and is famous for smelling like hot buttered popcorn.
🦿 2. Physical Appearance, Anatomy & Adaptations
Features long black coarse fur, white ear tufts, a heavy muscular body, and a thick prehensile tail as long as its body.
🗺️ 3. Habitat, Geographic Distribution & Territorial Range
Strictly arboreal and nocturnal. They move slowly through tree branches, using their tail as a fifth limb.
🥩 4. Diet, Feeding Strategy & Hunting Tactics
Frugivores that favor strangler figs, plucking fruit while suspended upside down by their prehensile tail.
🐣 5. Reproduction, Lifecycle & Social Hierarchy
Gestation is 90 days. Females give birth to 2-3 cubs, which stay in tree hollows for 8 weeks.
🛡️ 6. Conservation Status, Population Threats & Protection
Vulnerable. Threatened by rainforest deforestation, palm oil conversion, and the pet trade.
💡 Fascinating Facts & Trivia
- Binturongs produce a scent from their scent glands that smells remarkably like warm buttered popcorn.
- They are one of only two Old World carnivores with a prehensile tail.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Direct authoritative answers regarding the biology, feeding habits, and habitat of the Binturong.
The Binturong is scientifically classified as Arctictis binturong. It belongs to the genus Arctictis within the family Viverridae, class Mammalia, and phylum Chordata.
In the wild, Binturongs inhabit Tall primary rainforest canopy, dense jungle thickets. Their native geographic range primarily spans Southeast Asia (India, Indonesia, Philippines).
The Binturong is classified as a Omnivore. It feeds primarily on specialized nutrients suited to its ecological niche in Tall primary rainforest canopy, dense jungle thickets.
A Binturong can achieve top speeds of 15 km/h (9 mph) and weighs approximately 9 - 20 kg (20 - 44 lbs). Its expected natural lifespan is 15 - 20 years.
The Binturong (Arctictis binturong) is currently designated as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Cite this Article
FaunaWiki Zoological Database (2026). "Binturong (Arctictis binturong) Species Profile."
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